HMC Update – December 2017

Dear HMC Members

Welcome to your December 2017 club update

News in this edition

Are you ready for Winter? BMC Advice on preparing for winter conditions on the hills

Next event is YHA Edale on 9/10 December

Membership renewals for 2018

Where have we been lately?

In November, the HMC went to Wales to hold the annual Banger and Mash trip to Snowdonia. Always very popular with the club, there was sausages galore and mountains of mash to be had followed by fireworks and games……and some mountain walking to work up an appetite.

Are you ready for winter?

Heading for the hills this winter? Whether you’re a seasoned winter warrior or just taking your first icy steps, we’ve got a mountain of essential skills & equipment advice right here on the BMC website.

Essential Winter Know How is a BMC website with good information on how to prepare for winter conditions in the hills. If you are heading to Edale or the trips in January and February, it is worth checking your gear is ready for the conditions and that you have the right clothing and equipment. If you are new to winter walking, this website is a good checklist to ensure you have the essentials.

For the more experienced winter members, the BMC are offering a short course to ensure you know how to check your novices are winter ready. This popular BMC training event will be returning on 3-4 February 2018 – this time the BMC will be offering support to experienced club members when taking novice club members out in winter conditions.

Upcoming HMC Events:

A grand old country house on the southern flanks of Kinder Scout, YHA Edale is one of the highest residences in the Peak District and has a view to match. The back garden is open access moorland! With the Great Ridge between Lose Hill and Mam Tor to the south and the Dark Peak moorland of the Kinder plateau to the north, not only is YHA Edale surrounded by stunning scenery but this area has a firm place in history – this open-access land was literally fought for. There are numerous footpaths into the hills, dales and moors and it is located in the very centre of the famous network of Dark Peak mountain bike cross country trails.

All places have been secured and menu options issued to the YHA for the Xmas meal. To those who are going, have a great weekend.

The hut Clwt-y-Bel is an old converted cottage near the small village of Deiniolen situated between Llanberis and Bethesda. The hut sleeps 18 in three bedrooms with bunk beds and has two toilets and a hot shower. The kitchen has all the usual facilities to cater for 18 people. The hut is a great base for our members to explore Snowdonia National Park.

HMC Membership Renewals 2018- Important Information

I hope that you have had an excellent year of adventures over 2017 with the HMC. From 1st January, your HMC subscription will be due in order to continue your existing membership of the club.

The HMC membership fee will remain at £22 for 2018. The membership fee covers the BMC subscription fees and will also help the club to maintain a healthy financial position to continue to support future events for its members. If you are renewing your membership for 2018, fees can be paid by:

– e-bank transfer to the HMC account (SC 20-74-09) (AC 90371467) – please notify the treasurer by email (preferred)
– sending a cheque made payable to the Hertfordshire Mountaineering Club (not HMC) to the treasurer or secretary.
– cash given to committee members at the pub socials.

Please note that if any of your contact or address details have changed over the last 12 months, please complete a HMC membership form providing your new details and send it to the Secretary together with your membership fee. Click here to download a Membership form.

IMPORTANT: Not updating your details with the HMC Secretary could invalidate any insurance policy you have with the BMC.

A window of three months is open to renew your membership until 31 March to coincide with the HMC’s requirement to update subscription fees to the BMC each quarter. Please note that in order to receive your Spring edition of the BMC magazine, Summit, please renew your membership by the end of February 2017.

As a demonstration of support for our mountain rescue services in 2017, the HMC is offering the option to make an additional discretionary contribution of £3 as part of the membership renewal which will be given to a nominated mountain rescue charity. The contribution will be entirely optional. If you wish to make a contribution please add £3 to your membership fee.

We look forward to seeing you all return for another great year of adventure in the mountains in 2018.

That’s it for now….if we don’t see you at Edale, have a great Christmas and hope to see you again in the New Year.